Bone Bio-Anchors for Repairing Rotator Cuff Tear

Abstract

The rotator cuff is a sleeve-like structure made of the tendons of the subscapular muscle, supraspinatus muscle, infraspinatus muscle, and teres minor muscle in the greater tuberosity of the humeral head [1]. Degeneration is liable to develop in the vascular insufficiency zone of the tendons of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles 10–15 mm proximal to the end of the greater tuberosity. In addition, an impact or a trauma to the acromion can also result in degeneration [2]. A suture anchor is conventionally used for repair of the rotator cuff tears [3]. Metal anchors implanted can only stay in the body permanently, while absorbable anchors are high-value consumables made of polylactic acid materials, and their degradation may lead to decreased fixation strength, inflammatory response, and osteolytic defects in the body [4]. Therefore, we have designed and used an allogeneic cortical anchor to repair rotator cuff tear and achieved good results [4].